November 14, 2007

'FNL' moves to ESPN? And a few other Dillon news bits

NOTE: If you're still working your way through Season 1 of "Friday Night Lights" on DVD, or you don't want to see spoilers for upcoming episodes of the show, you may want to skip this post.

You may think that, as of last Friday’s episode of “Friday Night Lights,” that the Landry-killed-a-guy story would be over. Wrong.

The Dec. 7 episode of the show is titled “The Confession.” Yes, that means what you think it means. Though Landry confessed about what he did to his cop dad in the Nov. 9 episode, “How Did I Get Here,” there’s a somewhat more public confession in the Dec. 7 episode.

However, the silver lining is that that Dec. 7 episode is supposed to wrap up the Landry-Tyra-dead guy story line once and for all. Also, that episode features the return of Kevin Rankin (who's been moonlighting on "Bionic Woman") as Herc.

By the way, Friday’s episode, “Pantherama!,” features the first of several guest appearances by Austin Nichols from “John From Cincinnati.” He’ll play Noah, a teacher at the high school who forms a bond with Julie Taylor (Aimee Teegarden).

In other “FNL” news, about that rumor, posted on Radar’s Web site, that the show might move to ESPN: False, at least that’s according to an NBC spokesman, who said no, it’s not happening.

I also contacted ESPN for a comment but have not heard back from them. A couple months ago, Bill Simmons, an ESPN columnist, professed his love for the show, but I think that’s about as far as the ESPN-“FNL” love fest goes at this point.

By the way, when “FNL” runs out of new scripts, the show should have a total of 15 episodes in the can. The last 2007 episode will air on Dec. 7, but there will be six more episodes that will air some time in early 2008, possibly as early as January.

A few final thoughts about this season of “FNL”: I’ve been among those who haven’t liked the Landry-kills-the-attacker story line from the start. True, it has given Jesse Plemons (who plays Landry) and Adrianne Palicki, who plays Tyra, some opportunities to do very powerful work.

In particular Tyra’s cruel breakup with Landry was painfully well done: It was clear she was being terrible to him so that he’d stay away for good, but being so mean to him clearly cost her a lot. As for Plemons – the way he walked away from that conversation just proved why he’s such a phenomenal actor. Without a word, his body language was that of a young man whose heart has just been shredded.

I’ve also greatly enjoyed Glenn Morshower as Landry’s dad. The two actors not only look alike, but the able Morshower also fit right in to the show’s improvisational, natural aesthetic (despite the melodramatic nature of the dead-body story line). I hope Morshower’s around for the rest of the season.

That said, as I’ve written before, I think that plot threw the show off balance. It just seemed too obvious and conventional for this show. I struggled with that, just as I’m still struggling with the idea that Landry could have gotten a spot on the Panther squad. And that he would have had a moment in the sun during a key game, with fans chanting his name. All of that seemed more than a bit contrived to me (as did Landry’s locker-room speech, which reminded me of Jack’s “live together, die alone” speech on “Lost”).

Still, there are those “FNL” moments I just live for. The most recent one: Jason Street (Scott Porter) telling Coach Taylor (Kyle Chandler) that Street was resigning from the team. I had a lump in my throat the whole time, especially when Taylor told Street that he hoped he hadn’t let the young man down.

And of course Connie Britton is reliably great as Tami. And it’s been kind of enjoyable to see Matt Saracen (Zach Gilford) exact revenge on Julie Taylor (Aimee Teegarden) for breaking his heart. The show’s done a good job, I think, of showing how foolishly a basically intelligent high-school girl can be – it’s very possible for her to not realize how good she had it in the past and want to undo her mistakes. But life teaches you that sometimes, it may just be too late (though it's too soon to tell if it's too late for Matt and Julie -- I'm one who holds out hope that they get back together after doing some painful but necessary growing up).

There were some satisfying moments in the Mexico story line with Street, Tim Riggins (Taylor Kitsch) and Lyla (Minka Kelly). And for some reason, the scene of the Riggins brothers in Tami’s guidance office just cracked me up. There’s usually a line or two in every episode that makes me laugh -- how priceless was the sex advice that Coach Taylor got from another coach a couple of episodes back? That was comedy gold, I’m telling you.

Given that the show might shut down production – possibly forever – in a few weeks, I’m more inclined to celebrate it, quite frankly, than to talk about its faults (though, yeah, I realize I just did that above). But I only dissect this show because I care so much about it. And all things considered, “FNL” is still must-see TV for me.

I must force myself not to think about the days when I won’t be seeing it anymore, at all. I can’t go there yet, Panther fans.

Photos: Three photos from "The Confession," the Dec. 7 episode of "Friday Night Lights."

Episode summaries for the next three episodes from NBC’s press site follow. They contain spoilers.

From NBC's press site:

Friday’s episode: “Pantherama!”

RECRUITING DAY—Brian “Smash” Williams’ (Gaius Charles) day has arrived.
He will soon be facing a tough decision, as he finds out his college
football options with the first official day for college recruiters to
talk to the premier high school players. Coach Taylor (Kyle Chandler)
addresses the recruiting day with the players, but has his attention on
a new player. With all the “Smash” hype, Matt Saracen (Zach Gilford) is
enjoying his new cheerleader girlfriend, but is finding himself more
and more attracted to his grandma’s live-in nurse. Meanwhile, Julie
(Aimee Teegarden), jealous of the Saracen situation, turns to a new
teacher to confide in. Tami (Connie Britton) brings together Lyla
(Minka Kelly) and Tyra (Adrianne Palicki) to run the annual
“Pantherama” event. Jesse Plemons, Scott Porter and Taylor Kitsch also
star.

Nov. 23: No episode

Nov. 30: “Seeing Other People”

OPEN RELATIONSHIPS? –Brian “Smash” Williams (Gaius Charles) goes on his
first recruiting trip that lives up to everything he hoped for until an
unexpected incident takes place at the end that will change his mind
about the school. Matt Saracen (Zachary Gilford) asks his cheerleader
girlfriend for an open relationship, but is there another girl?
Meanwhile, emotions escalate in the Taylor family as Tami (Connie
Britton) explodes on a young teacher that she feels is getting too
close to Julie (Aimee Teegarden), while Eric (Kyle Chandler) explodes
on Tami about her relationship with a different associate of theirs at
the school. Tyra (Adrianne Palicki) is asked by her former attacker’s
brother to meet in person and make amends, but afraid to face him,
Landry (Jesse Plemons) goes in her place. Minka Kelly and Taylor Kitsch
also star.

Comments

In an early episode of the west wing's final season Leo, John Spencer, is told not to accept the premise of the question and I've come to think that it's not just so much the murder that was the problem as much as it was that the premise for the attack that came out of no where and thus made the whole storyline too unbelievable.

In other words some viewers and critics rejected the premise of the storyline entirely (and probably would have even if there hadn't been a murder), cue the outcry.

I tend to think that if more information/background had been given at the end of s1 about Tyra's attacker, viewers would have kept in mind that there was a loose threat out there, just waiting to try to hurt again Tyra. I think that viewers' knowledge of the threat would have helped accepting the premise of the attack and further defense.

But since the rapist just came back because the writers wanted to bring big drama and emotion with no ,even if only slightly, meaty background of the attacker and his modus operandi, the premise of his return and what followed felt too far fetched and it backfired for some.

I've never had any issue with the storyline myself.

I don't think it was the greatest idea but I also do not think it has disminished the show in any way.
Rather I think it has brought fantastic and heart breaking performances by Palicki, Plemmons and Morshower that have consistently entertained me.

Being entertained is why I watch any show so I have nothing bad to say against the murder storyline.

What I absolutely loathe, and have so since the pilot, is anything to do with Bratty and Whiny, aka Julie and Matt. Those characters are truly nauseating to me. Just cannot stand them at all.

Tyra and Landry though, just like Tim and Tyra, I cannot get enough.

Also while I think Britton deserves a chunck load of awards I hope she stops crying and moping soon because as true to life as it may be it's getting old entertainment wise.

My biggest gripe against the show is how badly it has portrayed the women's world outside of the men in their lives.
I'm not asking for "Sex and The Small Town", I don't want to be put through slumber parties and I can live without another second of the "book club" but I just cannot believe that Lyla and Tyra, who have been in Dillon all their life, have no female friends to confide in.

Whiny has Landry, Tim has Jason but Tyra and Lyla? Zilch, nada, zero friends of the same genre who has known them for years besides their mother and sister.

Now THAT to me is extremely far fetched, murder in comparison, not so much.

It had better not be too late for Julie and Matt. I completely disagree with the above poster. The truth is that their relationship was what drew a lot of people into the show last year, and the end of it has hurt the show. I haven't found Matt particularly interesting with any characters this year except Coach and, at times, Smash. He has no chemistry with this new girl, and the idea of him with the Nurse is just nauseating.

If they don't bring Julie and Matt back together before the show ends for good, none of the crap they put us through this year will have been worth it. The murder SL was horrid, Coach leaving and coming back was a mistake and cost the early episodes their momentum, and Julie's early rebellion was over-the-top and too sudden, despite AT's great acting.

Also, I agree with the above poster that Connie Britton's character has gotten too much screen time this year and it's getting a little annoying.

Mo, if you have inside information that says it's "just too late" for Julie to make up for her mistakes, please just let us know now. I have no interest in the adulterous duo - Tim and Lyla. If I have to sit through the rest of this year, watch Matt with second-rate actresses and never get my Matt and Julie reunion, I will be seriously pissed. So please, show, just let us know now if they get back together so that I know whether to bother watching for the rest of the season. Because they have really dropped the ball on too many things this year for me to be willing to forgive a permanent MJ breakup. The viewers want it, and after that hideously painful breakup and the unnecessary Julie character assassination, they deserve it, okay?

BTW, when is Matt going to mess up? It's his turn.....he's boring as a total Saint.,.

[Mo here: Sorry if I was unclear -- my intent was to say that it MAY be just too late. I don't have inside info on what will happen to them.]

I don't mind the murder story arc. It's not my favorite part of the show, but it's only a small part of it. Personally, I thought last year's triangle with Jason/Tim/Lyla was much worse and completely boring. I never understood the justification that their feelings were all mixed up. It just didn't fit.

Now that Coach is back, FNL seems just as good as it was last year. He and Tami are the heart of the show and as long as there are plenty of scenes of them either together or interacting with the other characters, this show will continue to hit all the right notes. I'm actually anxious to see how Coach will react to Lance's (aka Landry's) confession.

The episode a few weeks back when Coach wanted to know if Tami had received the 'greenlight' just had me rolling! So true to life and played so well by both actors. I had a big grin on my face in every scene they were together, plus the one with Coach and Mac.

I think, at times, that FNL is funnier than most sitcoms out there. The difference is, this show can swing between comedic moments and heart-wrenching moments in the blink of an eye. That's what makes it so great.

Wow, such negativity from some of the commenters. The show isn't worth it if Matt and Julie don't end up together? I completely disagree. Sure, I like them as a couple, but to me, what makes FNL so fascinating is that it feels more like peeking into a slice of life than a scripted TV show. How many high school relationships end up happily ever after? Even more important, how many people do anything in high school without making a lot of idiotic missteps along the way? While it's certainly painful to watch Julie act like a brat and hurt Matt, it has also felt pretty organic to me. This is a teenage girl who has undergone a tremendous amount of upheaval in the past year. Not only did she have to transition out of being an only child after nearly sixteen years, her family was (albeit temporarily) fractured. Rebellion and bad decisions seem par for the course.

Besides, with the exception of Eric and Tami, who truly are the heart and soul of the show, none of the romantic relationships are particularly make or break for me. Matt/Julie, Jason/Lyla, Tim/Lyla, Tim/Tyra, Tyra/Landry...they all have their place, but I don't see any of them as particularly definitive.

And I can't help but be skeptical of the "truth" that Matt/Julie is what hooked people last season, and the lack of is what is turning them off this season. While that may be the case for some viewers, I think this season has been hurt more by the many people who seemed willing to throw up their hands in defeat after viewing the premiere. Rather than wait and see how the Tyra/Landry death storyline played out, it was easier to toss around phrases like "jumping the shark" and "sophomore slump."

On the whole, I am still very much enjoying this season. These are still characters who can make me laugh and cry in a single episode, and I, for one, intend to relish the journey with them as long as it lasts.

I was skeptical of the whole murder portion of the plot but I think they've handled it really well. The concept of Landry killing someone is somewhat outlandish, but the way the way it has all played out has seemed pretty realistic to me. Even smart high-school kids do stupid things and dumping the body may seem ridiculous to us but to a 16 year-old, maybe not. The guy playing Landry's dad has been great and totally believable.

Also, Julie's bratty behavior seems pretty realistic to me as well. According to my wife, most teenage girls go through the "I'm a brat and hate my mom" stage even though they really don't hate their mom.

Both my wife and I still think the show is great. I love how that most of the characters on this show don't have all the answers and are flawed and don't talk like adults.

Why has no one mentioned anything about the charismatic backbone of the show - Tim Riggins?

Taylor Kitsch has truly stepped up this season and "brought it" as Riggins - he seems as comfortable in his skin playing the hard headed alkie, as the vulnerable and lost, but sensitive teen trying to find his way in the world.

Most of all it has been truly refreshing to see the writers give him more lines, so we can see him smile,smirk,and really portray the emotion the character in such a beautiful way.

It doesn't hurt that he's also one of the most gorgeous men on the planet...but I can't get enough of him. FACT.

I'm glad they got 15 eps in. I'll be fine if they move anywhere - as long as they are on air. Awesome Show!!

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